Sheila W. - July 28, 2010
Scripture:
2 Peter 2:20-22 20 If they have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ and are again entangled in it and overcome, they are worse off at the end than they were at the beginning. 21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them. 22 Of them the proverbs are true: "A dog returns to its vomit," and, "A sow that is washed goes back to her wallowing in the mud."
Observation:
This entire chapter is talking about deceitful, cruel low-lifes, people who entice people into sin, even enticing people who are trying to walk with the Lord back into a life of sin.
Application:
"Backsliding" is a huge issue in Christian doctrine. I was raised to believe that people could lose their relationship with Christ, not because Christ forsakes them, but because they choose to back off on their covenant with Him. I've heard that if people who professed at one time to be Christians turned against Him, then they never accepted Him in the first place. That may be true--I'm sure there are a lot of people who say they love Christ that don't know Him at all. But this scripture--man, it's hard to refute. It pretty much spells out that someone CAN know Christ, then turn against Him and that's a worse place to be than if he'd never known Him at all. This is one set of tough verses. I can really see the jealous anger of God here.
Prayer:
Dear and Precious Lord, You are a great God, One whom we all should fear. You are jealous for us and want us all to live according to Your perfect will. Protect Your Church from those who would love to come in and steal and destroy. Help us to be on guard against them, to recognize them when they try to hurt us. And help us, Lord, to be careful of our own motives and attitudes, that none of us become in any way like these men Peter is talking about. I want to stay pure and true before You, Lord. In Jesus' name, Amen.
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